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Rainy Season Brings Threat of
Dengue, 1 In 4 Downpours
Contaminated
The rainy season not only means
getting wet but also the threat
of the "zancudo" - the mosquito.
The rainy season is breeding
ground for the mosquitos and the
Dengue fever, including the more
serious Hemorrhagic Dengue.
Though last year was the worst
for the number of cases of
Dengue - 37.798 cases in total -
this year, 2.014 cases have
already been reported and the
season is just getting under
way.
The only option against fighting
Dengue is prevention. The Caja
Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS)
or the Caja as it commonly
known, has invested some ¢4.236
million colones (us$8.35 million
dollars) in medication and a
publicity campaign.
Old tires or any place where
water is stagnant is a good
breeding ground for the Dengue
carrying mosquito. It is
important to take a closer to
empty out any water receptacle
and dispose of old tires
properly.
In addition, a study by the
Universidad Nacional done
between July and December of
2005, shows that one in every
four downpours falling on San
José is contaminated with acid
rain, that affect health.
The study revealed that the most
contaminated rain falls on
Avenida 10 around the area of
the San José municipal offices
and Barrio Córdoba around the
area of the offices of the
Ministerio de Seguridad Pública.
Jorge Herrera, one of the
investigators of the study,
explained that the areas
mentioned have the greatest
amount of contamination because
of the heavy flow of vehicular
traffic. Other areas that have
high contaminated rain falls is
around the Biblioteca Nacional,
which is one block from the
Legisaltive Assembly building
and the Museo de los Niños.
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